CDC Data Show Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Reduce Pediatric Emergency Visits

New CDC data highlight the continued public health value of updated COVID-19 vaccines for children. Analysis from the VISION Vaccine Effectiveness Network found that the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines reduced COVID-19–associated emergency department and urgent care visits by 76% among children ages 9 months to 4 years and by 56% among those ages 5–17 during the first six months after vaccination.

While children experience lower hospitalization rates than older adults, infants and toddlers face comparatively high risk, and severe illness still occurs among school-aged children. These real-world effectiveness studies support evidence-based vaccine policy, strengthen vaccine confidence, and inform prevention strategies across public health systems. Read more from CDC’s MMWR here.